Mobile software agents for control of distributed systems based on principles of social insect behaviour

Mobile software agents are computational processes that are capable of moving. The agents are based on organisational principles observed in social insects such as ants. It is argued that if these principles can be emulated, then the desirable features of natural systems such as simplicity, adaptability and robustness can be made inherent in computer control systems. We have devised an application which is capable of showing an ensemble of mobile agents controlling congestion in a circuit switched telecommunications network and illustrating the points discussed.<>